109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 19

JOINT RESOLUTION

Whereas August 1, 2005, is the 30th anniversary of the

Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation

in Europe (CSCE), renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 1995

(hereafter in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘Helsinki

Final Act’’);

Whereas the Helsinki Final Act was the first international

agreement to accord human rights the status of a fundamental principle in regulating international relations;

Whereas, during the Communist era, members of nongovernmental organizations, such as the Helsinki Monitoring

Groups in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, and Armenia and similar groups in Czechoslovakia and Poland,

sacrificed their personal freedom and even their lives in

their courageous and vocal support for the principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act;

Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the

Helsinki Final Act by creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor and encourage

compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;

Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the

participating States in the OSCE (hereafter in this reso-
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SJ 19 ES

lution referred to as the ‘‘participating States’’) declared

that ‘‘[h]uman rights and fundamental freedoms are the

birthright of all human beings, are inalienable and are

guaranteed by law’’ and that ‘‘[t]heir protection and promotion is the first responsibility of government’’;

Whereas, in the 1991 Document of the Moscow Meeting of

the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE,

the participating States ‘‘categorically and irrevocably

declare[d] that the commitments undertaken in the field

of the human dimension of the CSCE are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States

and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of

the State concerned’’;

Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the

participating States committed themselves ‘‘to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of

government of our nations’’;

Whereas the pro-democracy revolution in Serbia in 2000, the

Rose Revolution in Georgia in 2003, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004, and the popular revolution in

Kyrgyzstan in 2005 demonstrate the primacy of popular

sovereignty and the importance of OSCE commitments

on free and fair elections;

Whereas the OSCE and the participating States have undertaken a series of measures aimed at combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination and should

report on related progress during the OSCE Conference

on anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance in

Cordoba, Spain, in June 2005;

Whereas the 1999 Istanbul OSCE Charter for European Security and the November 19, 1999, Istanbul Summit
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Declaration note the particular challenges of ending violence against women and children as well as sexual exploitation and all forms of trafficking in human beings,

and commit the participating States to strengthen efforts

to combat corruption, eradicate torture, and end discrimination against Roma;

Whereas the main challenge facing the participating States

remains the implementation of the principles and commitments contained in the Helsinki Final Act and other

OSCE documents adopted on the basis of consensus;

Whereas the participating States have recognized that economic liberty, social justice, and environmental responsibility are indispensable to prosperity;

Whereas the participating States have committed themselves

to promoting economic reforms through enhanced transparency for economic activity, with the aim of advancing

the principles of market economies;

Whereas the participating States have stressed the importance of respect for the rule of law and vigorous efforts

to fight organized crime and corruption, which constitute

a great threat to economic reform and prosperity;

Whereas OSCE has expanded the scope and substance of its

efforts, undertaking a variety of preventive diplomacy initiatives designed to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict

within and among the participating States;

Whereas the politico-military aspects of security remain vital

to the interests of the participating States and constitute

a core element of OSCE’s concept of comprehensive security;

Whereas the OSCE has played an increasingly active role in

civilian police-related activities, including training, as an
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integral part of OSCE’s efforts in conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation; and

Whereas the participating States bear primary responsibility

for raising awareness of violations of commitments contained in the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That Congress calls upon the President—

4 (1) to issue a proclamation—

5 (A) recognizing the 30th anniversary of the

6 signing of the Final Act of the Conference on

7 Security and Cooperation in Europe;

8 (B) reasserting the commitment of the

9 United States to full implementation of the

10 Helsinki Final Act;

11 (C) urging all participating States to abide

12 by their obligations under the Helsinki Final

13 Act; and

14 (D) encouraging the people of the United

15 States to join the President and Congress in

16 observance of this anniversary with appropriate

17 programs, ceremonies, and activities; and

18 (2) to convey to all signatories of the Helsinki

19 Final Act that respect for human rights and funda20 mental freedoms, democratic principles, economic
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1 liberty, and the implementation of related commit2 ments continue to be vital elements in promoting a

3 new era of democracy, peace, and unity in the region

4 covered by the Organization for Security and Co5 operation in Europe.

Passed the Senate July 27, 2005.

Attest:

Secretary.
109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 19

JOINT RESOLUTION

Calling upon the President to issue a proclamation

Final Act.recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki